Magnetic valve



Jan. 23, 1940. z 2,187,834

MAGNETIC VALVE Original Filed Jan. 8, ,1937

[jam MAY/V2272? Patented Jan. 23, 1940 NITED STATES TENT ' MAGNETIC VALVE Original application January 8, 1937, Serial No.

Divided and this application Decemher 31, 1937, Serial N0. 182,669

13 Claims.

This invention relates to thermo-electric safety devices, and more particularly is directed to such devices employed in connection with gas burner igniting apparatus for use in heating appliances such as hot water heaters, ranges, and similar .apparatus.

The present application, which is a division of my copending application Serial No. 119,557, filed January 8, 1937, is directed particularly to the magnetic valve.

In the copending application of John H. Thornbery and myself, Serial No. 743,382, filed September 10, 1934, there is disclosed a safety device of the type in which the valve controlling the supply of fuel to the main burner can be manually held open when the pilot flame has been extinguished. In some situations this may be undesirable, since a large accumulation of gas may collect in the burner chamber before the pilot flame is ignited, with resulting hazards of explosion.

The present invention contemplates a mechanism in which the main valve member is snapped closed whenever the pilot burner is extinguished, and cannot be moved to open position until the pilot burner is again ignited. This precludes any attempt to hold the valve open while the pilot burner is extinguished.

In conjunction with this feature, the present invention includes means for by-passing a certain quantity of fuel through or around the valve while it is in closed position to supply the pilot burner during the manual resetting operation.

Provision is made for directing the by-passed gas to the pilot burner through a connection which also serves as one'conductor for the thermocouple formed at and responsive to the heat of the pilot burner.

As one important advantage, of the present construction I provide a thermocouple combined with a pilot burner, the connection from the thermocouple to the safety device in turn forming the supply passage from the fuel supply line to the pilot head. which is supported solely by this connection.

In addition. the combined thermocouple and pilot head are connected to the safety device through a quick detachable connection which allows rapid and easy assembly without the necessity of terminal lugs, solder connections or the like.

Still another advantage of the present invention resides in the provision of a magnet frame which may be of round, circular, or of any other suitable or preferred type, and which is mounted for reciprocatory movement in the housing of the safety device. The magnet frame assembly and resetting mechanism is provided with coacting spring means whereby, upon imparting the resetting movement to the magnet frame, the 5 secondary or by-pass valve means is opened while the main safety valve remains closed, and upon energization of the electromagnet by the thermoelectric current the valve is held to the magnet frame and the valve and magnet frame are con- 3% jointly moved into valve opened position, the bypass valve to the pilot burner being simultaneous- 1y closed.

Another important advantage of the present invention is that the sa"ty device may be mount- 15 ed in any position in the fuel supply line, and the valve mechanism, magnet frame and resetting mechanism remain fully operative regardless of Q the position in which the device is mounted.

Still another advantage of the present invention is the use of the housing of the device itself as the ground connection for one side of the electromagnetic coil, whereby the combined thermocouple and pilot burner has one side thereof dlrectly grounded to the housing, while the other side thereof is connected through an insulated and closed conductor to the coil, this conductor at the same time forming a gas supply passage to the pilot burner from the valve seat.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description which, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, will disclose to those skilled in the art the particular construction and operation of a preferred form of the present invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the, application of the present inventionto heating, apparatus;

Figure 2 is a sectional view through the device 7 of the present invention, including the combined f thermocouple and pilot head construction;

Figure 3 shows a modified manner of connecting the thermocouple to the device; and

Figure 4 shows a still further modified arrange- A,

ment.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, in Flgure 1 I have shown the main fuel supply line 5, having the safety device 8 mounted therein, and communicating through the conduit 1 from the outlet side of the safety device to a fuel supply manifold or the like indicated at 8, provided with the usual gas cook 9, which may be either man- .S ED

ually or automatically operated, for delivering fuel under pressure to the main burner Ill.

The burner I8 is preferably ignited by means of a lighter tube I2 which extends into the torch head l3 receiving the pilot head indicated generally at l4. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1, the device has been shown and applied to a gas range in which a number of burners in may be mounted symmetrically about the torch head l3, each being supplied with a lighter tube l2 whereby gas from the main burner I8 is transmitted through an auxiliary port and the tube l2 to the pilot burner, is there ignited and flashes back to the burner to ignite the main burner ports. However, it is to be understood that the torch head I! and lighter tubes l2 may be eliminated, and in such case the pilot burner l4 may be disposed directly adjacent the main burner l8, where only a single burner is employed, such as in hot water heaters or other types of heating apparatus.

Considering now in detail the specific construction illustrated as showing one form of the present invention, in Figure 2 I have provided a safety device comprising the main valve body l5, provided with the inlet chamber l6 and with the outlet chamber l1. Intermediate these chambers there is provided the partition l8 forming the valve seat l9 defining the opening through which communication is effected between the inlet and outlet chambers.

Mounted in any suitable manner upon the upper portion of the valve body I5 is a housing 20, which may be bolted thereto as indicated by the cap screws 22, or may be secured thereto in any other suitable or desired manner. Interposed between the housing 28, which is preferably of inverted cup-shape, and the annular shoulder 23 of the valve body I5 is a gasket member 24 which seals the surfaces that are clamped together, and is provided with an axially extending flange portion 24' at its inner periphery.

,Mounted in the passage formed between the valve body l5 and the housing is a magnet frame member 25, having the electromagnetic coil 26 carried therein, the coil 28 having one terminal thereof grounded to the housing 28 as indicated at 21 through the conductor 28, and having its opposite -terminal connected through conductor 29 to a terminal stud 38 which is disposed in insulated relation to the housing by being carried within the insulating bushing 32.

The magnet frame is provided with a central axially extending recess 33. which is adapted to receive a spring member 34 biased at one end against the inner end of the recess 93. and at its opposite end bearing against the turned over ed e 35 of the proiectin stem ortion 36 of valve member 31, the member 3" in turn carrvin at its lower base the leather valve seatin member 38 adapted to have en agement with the valve seat l9. The leather seat ng member s h d in position by the retainin washer or disc 39. which in turn is secured to the member 31 bv means of the threaded nlw. 40 extending into the open end of the recess 42 formed in the member.

A suitable valve stem 43 is carried within the recess 42 of the member 31, and normally is pressed into seatine engagement w th the valve seat 44 by means of the sprin 45 encircling the valve stem and biased at its lower end against the packing carried in the upper end of the recess 42.

The member 31 is provided with a laterally extending port 46, which extends into and communicates with the passageway 42 above the valve stem head 41. The member 81 is also provided with a second axially offset laterally extending passageway 48 which, adjacent its outer end, communicates through the passageway 49 directed axially of the valve member and through the valve member 38 to the lower radial face of the valve member 38.

The valve seat I9 is provided with a passageway 50, adapted to be aligned with the passageway 49 and extending upwardly through the valve body as indicated at 52 to the gasket 24. The gasket 24 is apertured, as indicated at 58, providing communication between the passageway 52 and a corresponding passageway 54 extending through only one side wall of the housing 28 and through the insulating bushing 32 into the interior of the terminal member 28, which terminal member is provided with an axially outwardly directed recess 58 which opens outwardly through the threaded boss portion 51 extending laterally from the side of the housing 28.

The valve member 91 forms, together with the cup-shaped member 68 and the annular plate member 82, an armature-like valve member which .is movable toward and away from the lower end 01' the magnet frame 25, having sliding movement guided by the axially extending flange portion 24' of the gasket 24. Thus, when the coil 26 is deenergized, the spring 84 urges the armature, consisting of the members 88, 82 and 31, downwardly away from the lower end of the magnet frame 25 and into engagement with the valve seat l9.

The magnet frame 25 is normally retained in position within the safety device by means of the spindle member 85, which has the head portion 88 engaged within the recess 33 of the magnet frame, and wh ch extends upwardly and carries at its outer end the resetting button 6'! which is threaded to the end of the spindle 85 and is recessed to receive one end of the spring 88, the opposite end of the spring 68 bearing against packing 59' carried within the recessed portion I8 or extending downwardly into the housing 20 and formed integral therewith. The spring 68 normally urges the button 51 outwardly of the housing 28, and thereby urges the spindle upwardly, holding the magnet frame 25 against the lower end of the wall portion 12 of the housing which defines the recess 18.

Considering now in detail the pilot burner construction. this comprises an outer tubular member 88 which is provided-with relatively large open ports 82 through which pilot flames 89 are adapted to roject, as indicated diagrammatically in Figure 2. and which is joined to an inner tubular member 84, there being a welded junction between 'these two members. as indicated at 85, forming a thermocouple junction disposed in the path of the pilot flame 83. The inner tubular member 84 is provided with a. plurality of ports 86 of reduced area as compared to the ports 82. and is connected, at its open end, through the bushing 81 with a hollow metallic conduit 88 which extends to the thermocouple and burner connection indicated generally at 89 whereby the burner and thermocouple are connected to' the safety device 6. The lower end of the outer member 88 is supported by a spiderlike member 92 which is provided with openings 53 therein for admitting air into the space between the members 88 and 84, this air merging with the gas issuing from the ports 86 to proaiamaa supply is closed oil due to the fact that the.

duce the burner flame 83. Suitable insulation 94 is provided between the inner metallic structure 88 and the outer metal tube 95 which terminates in the spider 92. It will thus be seen that a thermocouple junction is provided at 85, and that one terminal of this junction is connected through the outer cylindrical member 88 and the metal tube 95 to the thimble 96, which is threaded over the threaded extension 51 of the housing 28, and thereby completes a connection to the grounded terminal 21 from one side of the coil 26. The other side of the thermocouple circuit extends from the inner tubular member 84 and the metal conduit member 88,

within the insulating sleeve 94, to the recess 56 formed in the terminal bushing 38. This makes metallic contact through the bushing 30 with the conductor 29 leading from the other side of the magnetic coil 26.

An insulating disc 98 is disposed about the projecting end of the'conduit 88 Within the thimble 96, and a wedgeshaped member 99, preferably of ductile metal, is disposed over the projecting end of the conduit 88, whereby, upon threading of the thimble 96 upon the extension 57, the wedge member 99 is wedged, together with the projecting end of the conduit 88, into the recess 56 of the thimble 30, and consequently forms a positive and gas tight electrical connecso tion therewith which is insulated from the metal tube 95 and from the supporting sleeve I88 disposed within the thimble 96. If desired, the metal tube 95 may be provided with a riding wipe or enlargement I82 with which the thimble 96 may engage at its reduced end in order to move the entire structure as a unit inwardly with respect to the bushing 38 when the thimble is tightened over the extension on the housing 28.

This provides a quick detachable connection not requiring the unloosening of any terminal screws, terminal lugs or the like, since by merely unthreading the thimble 96, the connection between the conduit 88 and the bushing may be readily broken, and the entire pilot burner and thermocouple structure may be removed from the safety device 6.

In the operation of the device as thus far described, the device is shown in Figure 2 as being in valve opened position, with the pilot flame ignited and the magnetic coil 26 thereby energized to hold the armature, including the valve member 31, to the magnet frame against the resistance of the spring 34. This is due to the fact that the heat of the pilot flame acting on welded junction 85 creates a current flow between the metal tube 95 and the hollow conduit 88 which, in turn, creates a flow of current through the coil 26 sufficient to magnetize the magnet frame 25 and create an attractive force on the valve member 31 suflicient to hold it against the magnet frame. Consider now that the pilot flame is accidentally extinguished. The thermocouple junction rapidly cools and thereby deenergizesv the. coil 26. The spring 34 thereupon becomes active and snaps the valve member 31 downwardly into engagement with the valve seat I9. This results in relative sliding engagement of the cup-shaped member 68 with respect to the gasket portion 24 of the gasket 24, while the magnet fram 25 and the coil 26 remain in fixed position due to the eiiect of the spring 68. The valve is therefore closed, closing off communication between the inlet chamber I6 and the outlet chamber I1, and also closing off the fuel supply" to the pilot burner. This latter fuel spring retains the valve stem 43 in position with the head 41 thereof pressed against the valve seat 44 so that no gas may flow from the inlet chamber I6 through the passageways 46 and 48 to the passageway 50.

When it is desired to either ignite the main burner or to reignite the pilot burner, the resetting button 61 is manually pushed downwardly. This results in moving the spindle 65 downwardly with respect to the magnet frame 25, and the magnet frame thereby slides downwardly within the upper end of the cup-shaped member 68, due to the fact that the shoulder I84 of the spindle 65 engages the top ofthe magnet frame andforces it downwardly against the pressure of spring 34. At the same time, the head end 66 of the spindle 65 engages the upper end of the valve stem 43, forcing the valve stem 43 away from its seat 44, and thereby opening communication between the passageways 46 and 48 formed in the valve member 31.

As a result, the gas which is under pressure in the inlet chamber I6 flows through the passageways 46 and 48 and thence through the axially extending passageway 49 into the passageway 50 formed in the valve seat I9. From the passageway 50, this gas flows upwardly through passageways 52 and 54 and into the recess 56 in the terminal bushing 30. From this recess, gas is passed through the hollow conductor 88 to the interior of the tubular member 84. from which it escapes through ports 86 and mixes with air introduced into the interior of the tubular member 80, and can be ignited as it issues with the air from the ports 82. The resulting pilot flames serve to energize the thermocouple, creating a current which in turn energizes the coil 26 and causes the armature formed by the members 68, 62 and 31 of the valve construction to be held positively against the lower end of the frame 25 by magnetic attraction. As a result, when the reset button 61 is released, the spring 68 moves the button 61 and spindle 65 upwardly, which in turn, through the head end 66 of the spindle 65, moves the frame 25 upwardly and consequently moves the valve member therewith, the two being held in magnetic attraction. This opens the valve, and the gas may then flow from the inlet chamber I6 through the valve seat I9 into the outlet chamber I1 and thence to the main burner or burners. At the same time. sufficient gas is still supplied through the port 58 in the valve seat to maintain the pilot burner I4 ignitedfiand consequently retain the valve member in raised position against the lower end of the magnet frame 25. Upon any accidental extinguishmentof the pilot burner, the magnet is immediately deenergized, and the spring 34 consequently forces the valve member down into engagement with the valve seat, thereby shutting off flow of fuel to either the pilot burner or the main burner.

In Figure 3 I have shown a modified structure, in which the coil 26 of the magnet is connected to the two terminals of the thermocouple junction, and is not grounded on the housing. In this embodiment of the invention, the upper housing of the safety device is indicated at H0, and is connected to the valve body housing II2 through the threaded sleeve II3 carried by the housing IIII. A suitable bushing H4 is secured in the side wall of the housing I8, and is adapted to receive, on its inner end, the terminal II5 of a conductor II6 leading to one side of the coil 26.

The other side of the cofl 26 is connnected through conductor II! and terminal II8 to a terminal bushing H3 which is insulated within the bushing 4 by the insulating sleeve I20. The thermocouple connection leading from the pilot burner, and consisting of the outer metallic tube 95, the thimble 96 which threads over the bushing II4 to effect electrical connection from the tube 95 through the thimble 36 and bushing II4 with conductor 6, and the inner hollow conductor I22, extends into the terminal bushing H9 and is wedged therein in substantially the same manner as described in connection with Figure 2. At the same time, gas for the pilot burner is supplied to ports I23 and I24 in the housings H2 and III], respectively, to the interior of the terminal bushing H9, and thence through the hollow conductor I22 to the pilot burner. Suitable insulating sleeve means I25 is provided between the outer metallic tube 95 and the inner hollow metallic conductor I22. The details of the manner in which the thermocouple and burner connections can be quickly coupled and disconnected from the housing structure is believed apparent from the drawing, when considered in conjunction with the description of this particular manner of assembly as set forth in connection with Figure 2.

In Figure 4 I have shown a still further modified construction, in which the supply for the pilot burner is separated from the connection to the thermocouple junction. In this embodiment of the invention, the valve body is indicated at I30, while the housing for the magnet frame and reset mechanism is indicated at I32, the two being secured together with the gasket I33 interposed therebetween in any desired manner. A suitable port I34 is formed in the valve body I33 and extends upwardly through the gasket and into the port I35 communicating with the interior I35 of a recess which opens outwardly through the attaching member I31 to the hollow conduit I38 leading to the pilot burner. The attaching member I3! is secured to the housing I32 by means of the cap screw I39, threaded to the side wall of the housing. The connnection for the coil 26 is provided by the conductor I40, which extends into the metallic thimble I42 secured within the insulating bushing I43 and joined to the conductor I44 extending to the thermocouple junction by means of the coupling member I45. Suitable insulation I46 extends about the conductor I44, and into the attaching member I31, forming a continuation of the insulating bushing I43.

As far as the operation of the device or the energization of the coil 26 and the supply of fuel to the pilot burner are concerned, the mechanism shown in Figures 3 and 4 will operate in the same manner as described in connection with Figure 2, and no further description of the operation thereof is deemed necessary.

It is therefore believed apparent that I have provided a novel type of safety device, in which the magnet frame is-reciprocally mounted in the housing for the safety device, and is moved downwardly into engagement with the valve member in order to pick up the valve member when the magnet has been energized and move it into valve open position. At the same time, whenever the pilot flame is accidentally extinguished, the supply of fuel to both the main burner and the pilot burner is automatically shut off, and when the resetting means is actuated, a limited supply of fuel to the pilot burner is provided without opening the main valve until such time as the pilot burner has been ignited and a sufflcient current has been generated to allow actuation of the magnet. Further, I have provided means for rapidly attaching and disconnecting the thermocouple and pilot burner connections, which facilitates assembly of the device, and insures easy replacement or repair in case of damage, or for inspection.

I am aware that various modifications may be made in details of structure and particular design, and intend that the illustrated embodiment of the invention be considered for purposes of illustration only as showing one form of the invention. I do not intend to limit my invention to the exact details shown, but only insofar as defined by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A safety device for a fuel supply line including a valve body, a valve seat therein, a valve engageable with said seat and having an armature, magnetic means reciprocably mounted with respect to said valve, primary spring means normally urging said magnetic means away from said seat, secondary spring means biased between said magnetic means and said armature and normally urging said valve into engagement with said seat, energizing means for said magnetic means capable of holding said armature in attracted position thereon but incapable of moving said armature from valve closed position into attracted position against the pressure of said secondary spring means, and resetting means for manually moving said magnetic means into engagement with said armature against the pressure of said primary spring means whereby said valve is moved to open position upon release of said resetting means when said magnetic means is energized at the time of release of said resetting means.

2. A control valve comprising a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, and an intermediate valve opening having a valve'seat, a movable electromagnet comprising a magnet frame and a coil for energizing said magnet frame, a unitary armature and valve member means engageable with said seat to close communication between said inlet and said outlet and having movement relative said electromagnet, means for separating said unitary armature and valve member means from said electromagnet and for movingsame into engagement with said valve seat upon deenergization of said electromagnet, resetting means for moving said electromagnet to position to engage the magnet frame with the armature portion of said unitary armature and valve member means, and spring means for retracting said electromagnet away from said seat and operable to move the armature and valve member means therewith to open the valve when said electromagnet is energized.

3. A control valve comprising a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, and an intermediate valve opening having a valve seat, a movable electromagnet comprising a magnet frame and a coil for energizing said magnet frame, a unitary armature and valve member means engageable with said seat to close communication between said inlet and said outlet and having movement relative said electromagnet, means for separating said unitary armature and valve member means from said electromagnet and for moving same into engagement with said valve seat upon deenergization of said electromagnet,

resetting means for moving said electromagnet toward the valve seat and to position to engage the magnet frame with the armature portion of said unitary armature and valve member means to pick up said armature and valve member means for movement with said electromagnet in the opposite direction when the electromagnet is energized, spring means for retracting said electromagnet away from said seat and operable to move the armature and valve member means therewith to open the valve when said electromagnet is energized, a by-pass around said valve opening, a valve member controlling said by-pass, and means for opening said last valve member by the movement of said resetting means in engaging the magnet frame of the electromagnet with the armature portion of said unitary armature and valve member means.

4. In combination, a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, and an intermediate valve opening having a valve seat, a movable electromagnet comprising a magnet frame and a coil for enerseat and operable to move the armature and valve member means therewith to open the valve when said electromagnet is energized.

5. In combination, a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, and an intermediate valve opening having a valve seat, a movable electromagnet comprising a magnet frame and a coil for energizing said magnet frame, a unitary armature and valve member means engageable with said seat to close communication between said inlet and said outlet and having movement relative to said electromagnet, means for separating said unitary armature and valve member means from said electromagnet and moving same into engagement with said valve seat upon deenergization of said electromagnet, resetting means for moving said electromagnet to position to engage the magnet frame with the armature portion of said unitary armature and valve member means, means for retracting the electromagnet away from said seat and operable to move the armature and valve member means therewith to open the valve when said electromagnet is energized, a hood on said valve body and a by-pass passage around said valve opening and extending through the valve 'body and said hood.

6. In combination, a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, and an intermediate valve opening having a valve seat, a movable electromagnet comprising a magnet frame and a coil for energizing said magnet frame, a unitary armature and valve member means en ageable with said seat to close communication between said inlet gagement with said valve seat upon deenergiration of said electromagnet, resetting means =ber cooperable therewith,

for moving said electromagnet to position to engage the magnet frame with the armature portion of said unitary armature and valve member means, means for retracting the electromagnet away from said seat and operable to move the armature and valve member means therewith to open the valve when said electromagnet is energized, a hood on said valve body, a by-pass passage around said valve" opening and extending through the valve body and said hood, a valve member controlling said by-pass passage, and means for opening said last valve member by the movement of said resetting means in engaging the magnet frame of the electromagnet with the armature portion of said unitary armature and valve member means.

7. In combination, a valve seat, a valve meman electromagnet movable into engagement with said valve member to pick up the valve member when the electromagnet is energized, means for retracting the electromagnet away from the valve seat and operable to move the valve member to open position with the movement of the electromagnet, and means for separating the valve member from said electromagnet and moving same into en gagement with' said yalve seat upon deenergization of said electromagnet.

8. In combination, a valve seat, a valve member cooperable with said valve seat and provided with an armature portion, an electromagnet mounted for movement relative to said valve seat, means for energizing said electromagnet, means for separating the valve member from the electromagnet and for moving said valve member into engagement with the valve seat upon deenergization of the electromagnet, means for moving the electromagnet to position to pick up the valve member when the electromagnet is energized, and means for retracting theelectromagnet away from the valve seat and operable to move the valve member with theeleotromagnet and to open position when the electromagnti is energized.

9. In combination, a yalve seat, a valve member cooperable with said valve seat and provided with an armature portion, an electromagnet mounted for movement relative to said valve seat, means for energizing said electromagnet, means for separating the valve member from the electromagnet and for moving said valve member into engagement with the valve seat upon deenergization of the electromagnet, means for moving the electromagnet to position to pick up the valve member when the electromagnet is energized, means for retracting the electromagnet away from the valve seat and operable to move the valve member with the electromagnet and to open positionwhen the electromagnet is energized, and a second valve member operated by the means for moving the electromagnet to position to pick up said first valve member.

10. In combination, a valve seat, a valve member cooperable with said valve seat and provided with an armature portion, an electromagnet mounted for movement relative to said valve seat, means for energizing said electromagnet, means for; separating the valve member from the electromagnet and for moving said valve member into engagement with the valve seat upon deenergization of the electromagnet, means for moving the electromagnet to position to pick up the valve member when the electromagnet is energized lmeans for retracting the electromagnet iawayifrom the valve seat and operable to move'the valve member with the electromagnet and to open position when the electromagnet is energized, a second valve member actuated to open position by the means for moving the electromagnet to position to pick up said first valve member, and means for closing said second valve member and for maintaining same closed when said firstvalve member is closed and said electromagnet is in retracted position away from the valve seat.

11. In combination, a valve seat, a valve member cooperable with said valve seat and provided with an armature portion, and an electromagnet comprising a magnet frame and an energizing coil therefor mounted for movement relative to said valve seat, said electromagnet having movement toward said valve seat and into cooperation with the armature portion of said valve member to pick up said valve member, and in the opposite direction, away from said valve seat to move said valve member to open position when the magnet frame of said electromagnet is energized by said coil.

12. In combination, a valve seat, a valve member cooperable with said valve seat and provided with an armature portion, an electromagnet comprising a magnet frame and an energizing coil therefor mounted for movement relative to said valve seat, said electromagnet having movement toward said valve seat and into cooperation aromas with the armature portion of said valve member to pick up said valve member and, in the opposite direction, away from said valve seat to move said valve member therewith to open position when the magnet frame of said electromagnet is energized by said coil, and means for actuating said electromagnet to position away from said seat and normally retaining the electromagnet in said position.

13. In combination, a valve seat, a valve member cooperable with said valve seat and provided with an armature portion, an electromagnet comprising a magnet frame and an energizing coil therefor mounted for movement relative to said valve seat, said electromagnet having movement toward said valveseat and into cooperation with the armature portion of said valve member to pick up said valve member and, in the opposite direction, away from said valve seat to move said valve member therewith to open position when the magnet frame of said electromagnet is energized by said coil, means for actuating said electromagnet to position away from said seat and normally retaining the electromagnet in said position, and means for moving the valve member away from said electromagnet and into engagement with the valve seat upon deenergization of said electromagnetn HAROLD A. MANTZ. 

